System and method of exporting or using welding sequencer data for external systems

Abstract

The invention described herein generally pertains to a system and method for collecting one or more welding parameters or a weld time during creation of one or more welds using a welding sequence. The one or more welding parameters and/or weld time for each welding sequence is utilized to determine an estimation of consumable depletion for a welding work cell and/or a repair/service to perform on equipment within the welding work cell. Furthermore, the weld time and/or welding parameters can be utilized to manage inventory for a plurality of welding work cells within a welding environment. Other embodiments provided track a cost for a performance of a weld with a welding sequence as well as identifying a workpiece to communicate information related to the one or more welds used for assembly.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A welder system, comprising:
 a welding job sequencer component that is configured to identify a welding sequence for a welding work cell, wherein the welding sequence defines at least a parameter and a welding schedule for a first welding procedure to create a first weld on a workpiece and a second welding procedure to create a second weld on the workpiece;   the welding job sequencer component is further configured to utilize the welding sequence in the welding work cell to automatically configure welding equipment to perform the first welding procedure and the second welding procedure on the workpiece without intervention from the operator; and   a collection component that is configured to track a weld time for at least one of the first weld or the second weld performed with the welding sequence; and   a manager component that is configured to ascertain an estimation of consumable depletion based on the weld time for the welding sequence used to perform the first weld or the second weld.   
     
     
         2 . The welder system of  claim 1 , further comprising a weld score component that is configured to evaluate at least one of the first weld or the second weld performed on the workpiece by the operator based upon at least one of a characteristic of the first weld or the second weld or a user inspection. 
     
     
         3 . The welder system of  claim 1 , further comprising a check point component that is configured to monitor creation of at least one of the first weld or the second weld. 
     
     
         4 . The welder system of  claim 1 , wherein the welding job sequencer component further instructs an operator of the welding work cell to assemble the workpiece with the first welding procedure and the second welding procedure having two separate welding schedules. 
     
     
         5 . The welder system of  claim 1 , wherein the manager component is further configured to evaluate an inventory of a consumable and compare the inventory to the estimation of consumable depletion. 
     
     
         6 . The welder system of  claim 5 , wherein the manager component is further configured to communicate an order to purchase additional consumables based on the comparison. 
     
     
         7 . The welder system of  claim 5 , wherein the manager component is further configured to communicate a delivery of a consumable to the welding work cell from the inventory based on the comparison. 
     
     
         8 . The welder system of  claim 1 , wherein the collect component is further configured to collect a welding parameter for at least one of the first weld or the second weld, wherein the collection component corresponds the welding parameter to the identified welding sequence and at least one of the first weld or the second weld. 
     
     
         9 . The welder system of  claim 8 , wherein the manager component is further configured to calculate the estimation of consumable depletion based on the welding parameter collected. 
     
     
         10 . The welder system of  claim 8 , further comprising a maintenance component that is configured to schedule a service on a welding equipment based upon at least one of the collected welding parameter or the weld time, wherein the welding equipment is serviced to prevent the welding equipment from performing the first weld or the second weld with the welding sequence. 
     
     
         11 . The welder system of  claim 10 , wherein the service is at least one of a replenishment of a consumable or a tip replacement for a welding torch that performs the first weld or the second weld. 
     
     
         12 . The welder system of  claim 1 , wherein the first weld created with the welding sequence is performed at the welding work cell and the second weld is created with the welding sequence is created at an additional welding work cell. 
     
     
         13 . The welder system of  claim 1 , further comprising a guide component that is configured to display a portion of media captured from the first weld or the second weld for a subsequent weld performed with the welding sequence. 
     
     
         14 . The welder system of  claim 12 , wherein the guide component displays the portion of media on at least one of an equipment of the operator or the workpiece as at least one of a video, a portion of audio, a 3 dimensional (3D) image, a hologram, or an image. 
     
     
         15 . The welder system of  claim 1 , further comprising a mark component that is configured to integrate an identification onto the workpiece after the welding sequence performs at least one of the first weld or the second weld. 
     
     
         16 . A method of welding in a welding work cell, comprising:
 identifying a welding sequence for an operator to use in a welding work cell, wherein the welding sequence defines a first welding procedure that includes a first parameter to create a first weld on a workpiece and a second welding procedure that includes a second parameter to create a second weld on the workpiece;   utilizing the welding sequence to automatically modify a welding equipment within the welding work cell without intervention from the operator creating at least one of the first weld or the second weld;   collecting a welding parameter during creation of at least one of the first weld or the second weld with the welding sequence;   tracking a weld time related to the creation of at least one of the first weld or the second weld with the welding sequence; and   increasing an amount of a consumable at the welding work cell based on at least one of the welding parameter or the weld time.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising displaying a portion of media captured from the first weld or the second weld for a subsequent weld performed with the welding sequence. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the portion of media is displayed on at least one of an equipment of the operator or the workpiece and is at least one of a video, an image, a picture, a holographic image, a holographic video, a 3 dimensional (3D) image, or a 3D video. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 tracking an amount of gas used with the welding sequence, an amount of electricity used with the welding sequence, and an amount of wire with the welding sequence; and   calculating a cost for the operator to perform at least one of the first weld or the second weld with the welding sequence.   
     
     
         20 . A welder system, comprising:
 means for identifying a welding sequence for an operator to use in a welding work cell, wherein the welding sequence defines a first welding procedure that includes a first parameter to create a first weld on a workpiece and a second welding procedure that includes a second parameter to create a second weld on the workpiece;   means for utilizing the welding sequence to automatically modify a welding equipment within the welding work cell without intervention from the operator creating at least one of the first weld or the second weld;   means for collecting a welding parameter during creation of at least one of the first weld or the second weld with the welding sequence;   means for tracking a weld time related to the creation of at least one of the first weld or the second weld with the welding sequence;   means for increasing an amount of a consumable at the welding work cell based on at least one of the welding parameter or the weld time;   means for calculating a cost based on the weld time for use of the welding sequence; and   means for managing an inventory of consumables based on the cost.